Scorching heat in northern China.

A series of cities in northern China recorded unprecedented high temperatures as summer arrived earlier and became harsher, straining the power grid.

"This summer the hot weather came earlier than usual, causing many people to order cold drinks, ice cream, and other cooling treats," said Liu Yuxin, a 28-year-old delivery driver, as he rode his electric scooter delivering food from morning till night in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province in northeastern China.

For Liu, waiting for his food in the air-conditioned restaurant is a real "lifesaver" when the temperature outside soars under the scorching sun. Every day, he has to deliver 40-50 food orders.

A series of provinces and cities in northern China, covering a total area of ​​more than two million square kilometers, experienced sweltering weather last week, with temperatures exceeding 35°C on many days, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan , and Shandong.

The National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for high temperatures on June 18. Three regions—Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Xinjiang—are expected to experience temperatures above 40°C in the coming days.

Electricity workers toil in the sweltering heat in Chaoyang city, Liaoning province, on June 15. Photo: Xinhua

This summer in Liaoning started five days earlier than in previous years, with intense heat engulfing the western part of the province. The heatwave, which began on June 14th and is expected to end on June 20th, marks the hottest period in the western part of the province in June since 1995.

On June 17th, four meteorological stations in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, recorded temperatures of 40-43 degrees Celsius. Jianping and Lingyuan counties even experienced unprecedentedly high temperatures for the month of June.

Over the past few days in Beijing, the sight of people hurrying along the streets in long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses has become common, as the Chinese capital issued an orange alert for high temperatures. Air conditioning on buses ran at full capacity, and everyone tried to minimize their time outdoors.

Dr. Chi Cheng, from Peking University People's Hospital, said the emergency department received 10 cases of heatstroke on June 17. She advised people to avoid outdoor activities and strenuous exercise during the afternoon heatwave.

The scorching heat has caused many cities in northern China to record peak electricity consumption.

"As economic activity increased in the second quarter, coupled with hot weather, Beijing's power grid load increased by about 30% year-on-year," said Zhao Rui, an engineer from Beijing Electric Power Group, adding that the company deployed 261 emergency response teams and 109 generator trucks on standby day and night for emergencies.

Construction workers in Beijing eat watermelon to cool off on June 16. Photo: X- Inhua

Authorities in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province, have instructed sanitation workers to suspend outdoor work between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when daytime temperatures exceed 35°C. When temperatures rise above 38°C, workers are ordered to cease all outdoor activities for the rest of the day.

Meanwhile, the Liaoning Provincial Water Resources Department is working to increase water reserves in several areas to ensure supply for rice-growing regions. The accumulated additional water in medium and large-scale farming areas has reached 186 million cubic meters since June 12th.

On June 14th, the food delivery platform Meituan Waimai established several heatstroke prevention stations throughout the city, providing sun-protective clothing, drinks, and medicine to its delivery staff. Meituan Waimai also optimized many routes to reduce the time delivery drivers spend driving outdoors.

"With the company's heatwave subsidy policy and a surge in orders, I can earn an extra 1,000 yuan (US$140) per month," revealed Liu, who has been a delivery driver for four years in Shenyang.

China's National Meteorological Center forecasts that much of the country will experience a summer this year that is as hot as or hotter than the average of previous years, amid predictions of an El Niño event this year.

Duc Trung (According to Xinhua )

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